Success in Saudi-hosted Spanish Super Cup win will give Barcelona ‘energy’

Hansi Flick, the coach of Barcelona, claimed that his team’s other goals for the season would be enhanced by retaining the Spanish Super Cup this week.

In a semifinal match at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Sports City stadium on Wednesday, the record 15-time champions take on Athletic Bilbao.

The first victory of Flick’s reign, followed by victories in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, came last year when Barca won the competition as the first leg of a domestic treble.

Flick, a former Bayern Munich coach, said, “I like this tournament a little bit more than the equivalent competition] in Germany.

“We wanted this year’s victory in the Super Cup, which gave us a lot of energy for the rest of the season,” said one player.

Barcelona are the favorites to win the Super Cup and lead La Liga after nine straight victories in the top flight, despite the significant doubts about their defense.

Late goals and a sensational performance from stopper Joan Garcia earned the Catalans a 2-0 victory in a tense derby on Saturday despite being outplayed by neighboring Espanyol.

Flick urged his team to perform better in the backfield if they wanted to win the tournament’s sixth edition in Saudi Arabia.

If we commit the same errors as on Saturday, it won’t be an easy match, so we must work on our issues, Flick continued.

We must play much better in the defense, stay connected as a unit, and do the same for the defense, as I did on Saturday.

Cancelo, a Barcelona target, may be departing from Saudi Arabia.

After a protracted mental health break, central defender Ronald Araujo may return to action this week.

Following a red card in Barcelona’s 3-0 Champions League defeat by Chelsea in November, the Uruguayan was given a month’s worth of leave.

We haven’t decided how to proceed with this training session because we will see it today and I will also want to speak with him.

“It takes time, so I’d think we might make changes if he feels prepared for tomorrow,” he said. “Also, it’s not our intention to do this right now.

Flick confirmed that Barcelona were close to signing Joao Cancelo from Al-Hilal until the end of the season, but the deal is still pending.

Joao could offer us more options as full-back, both sides in the offence, and good quality, but as far as I’m aware, it’s not done, Flick said.

Cancelo signed for Barcelona from Manchester City on loan during the 2023-2024 season.

Athletic, who is eighth in La Liga, won the Super Cup three times before losing to Barcelona in the final in 2021.